Holocaust survivor fearful of rise in anti-Semitic crimes: 'No doubt history has a way of repeating itself'

Holocaust survivor fearful of rise in anti-Semitic crimes: 'No doubt history has a way of repeating itself'

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Updated: 8:38 PM CDT May 2, 2019

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HOW DO YOU STOP HATE KITTY WILLIAMS BELIEVES YOU NEED START IN SCHOOLS TO STOP THE HATE. >> I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE HOLOCAUST, WHAT CAN HAPPEN, AND NEXT TIME, IT MIGHT NOT BE THE JEWS. MICHELLE: THAT’S WHY AT AGE 94, THIS HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR IS ON A MISSION TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THE HATE SHE EXPERIENCED AT THE SAME AGE THEY ARE NOW. >> IT IS VERY SCARY, AND THAT’S WHY WE NEED EDUCATIO I BELIEVE THAT IS THE ONLY ANSWER. MICHELLE: THURSDAY, KITTY SHARED HER STORY WITH WAVERLY HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS. LIVING IN HUNGARY IN 1944, THE NAZIS TOOK HER FAMILY TO THE AUSCHWITZ CONCENTRATION CAMP. ALL SHE HAS LEFT OF HER FATHER IS THIS PHOTOGRAPH FOUND IN HIS OVERCOAT. >> IT WAS AT THE DOOR OF THE GAS CHAMBER. MICHELLE: KITTY’S PUSH TO EDUCATE IS HEIGHTENED WITH THE RECENT RISE IN ANTI-SEMITIC CRIMES AND DEADLY SYNAGOGUE SHOOTINGS. ACCORDING TO THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, VIOLENCE AGAINST JEWS IN 2018 INCREASED AN ASTOUNDING 105% FROM 2017. IN THE FOUR DECADES THE ADL HAS BEEN TRACKING SUCH CRIMES, 2018 RECORDED THE THIRD HIGHEST NUMBER OF INCIDENTS. >> IT JUST BRINGS BACK MEMORIES. BECAUSE THAT’S HOW IT STARTED WITH US, AS WELL. BEATING A JEW WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. MICHELLE: DESPITE THE RECENT VIOLENCE, KITTY IS HOLDING ONTO HOPE AND FAITH THAT THE HATE WILL FADE, AND THAT HER YOUNG AUDIENCE IS LISTENING. >> I FEEL I AM MAKING AN IMPACT. MICHELLE: KITTY SPEAKS TO ABOUT 15 SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR, FOCUSING ON RURAL SCHOOLS WHERE THERE IS NOT A LARGE JEWISH POPULATION. SHE ALSO VISITS WOMEN PRISONS AND SHARES HER STORY THROUGH THE INSTITUTE FOR HOLOCAUST EDUCATION. SHE PLANS TO DO THIS FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE. SHE JUST WISHES SHE HAD STARTED SOON

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Holocaust survivor fearful of rise in anti-Semitic crimes: 'No doubt history has a way of repeating itself'

Kitty Williams is one of 10 Holocaust survivors living in the Omaha metro area. She is on a mission to educate young people about her horrific experience as a teenager, especially now.The recent rise in anti-Semitic crimes and the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history has her frightened for the future."I think it's very important to remind people of the Holocaust and what can happen," Williams said. "Next time might not be the Jews."At age 94, Williams visits about 15 schools every year to share her story and keep the history alive."It is very scary and that's why we need education, that is the only answer," she said.Thursday, she spoke with middle and high students at Waverly High School.Living in Hungary in 1944, the Nazis forced her family to go to the Auschwitz concentration camp. She was 19 years old."They were hurrying with the Hungarian Jews because they didn't take us until 1944," she recalled."Dr. Josef Mengele, the famous doctor was pointing where to go. I was separated from my dad. He went left. I went right. He was killed that first day."She holds onto a precious photograph of his family found in her father's overcoat."It was at the door of the gas chamber," Williams said.She stayed at Auschwitz for three months before being moved to a munitions plant and forced to do hard labor."We were being poisoned by the chemicals at the plant," she said.American troops liberated the plant in 1945. Williams' push to educate young people comes when there has been a rise in anti-Semitic crimes.According to the Anti-Defamation League, violence against Jews in the United States increased 105 percent from 2017 to 2018. In the four decades the ADL has been tracking these hate crimes, it said 2018 recorded the third-highest number of incidents."It just brings back memories. That's how it started with us as well, beating a jew was a common occurrence," Williams said.Despite the recent violence, Williams said she is holding onto hope the younger generation will make a change for the better by hearing her story."I feel I am making an impact," she said. "I may be naïve or in denial, but there is hope. We have to have hope."

WAVERLY, Neb. —

Kitty Williams is one of 10 Holocaust survivors living in the Omaha metro area. She is on a mission to educate young people about her horrific experience as a teenager, especially now.

The recent rise in anti-Semitic crimes and the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history has her frightened for the future.

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"I think it's very important to remind people of the Holocaust and what can happen," Williams said. "Next time might not be the Jews."

At age 94, Williams visits about 15 schools every year to share her story and keep the history alive.

"It is very scary and that's why we need education, that is the only answer," she said.

Thursday, she spoke with middle and high students at Waverly High School.

Living in Hungary in 1944, the Nazis forced her family to go to the Auschwitz concentration camp. She was 19 years old.

"They were hurrying with the Hungarian Jews because they didn't take us until 1944," she recalled.

"Dr. Josef Mengele, the famous doctor was pointing where to go. I was separated from my dad. He went left. I went right. He was killed that first day."

She holds onto a precious photograph of his family found in her father's overcoat.

"It was at the door of the gas chamber," Williams said.

She stayed at Auschwitz for three months before being moved to a munitions plant and forced to do hard labor.

"We were being poisoned by the chemicals at the plant," she said.

American troops liberated the plant in 1945.

Williams' push to educate young people comes when there has been a rise in anti-Semitic crimes.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, violence against Jews in the United States increased 105 percent from 2017 to 2018. In the four decades the ADL has been tracking these hate crimes, it said 2018 recorded the third-highest number of incidents.

"It just brings back memories. That's how it started with us as well, beating a jew was a common occurrence," Williams said.

Despite the recent violence, Williams said she is holding onto hope the younger generation will make a change for the better by hearing her story.

"I feel I am making an impact," she said.

"I may be naïve or in denial, but there is hope. We have to have hope."